The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Reporter's Diary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Reporter's Diary

Matters in the financial sector are as volatile as rates in the every day stock market. Sometimes, the shocks and losses would be enormous if timely treatment is not given. And the man who suggested the therapy? M. Damodaran, the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India, Mumbai.

The `lucky' and `golden touch' banker as he is referred to in the market was in the city last Friday. Participating in the platinum jubilee of Arya Vaidya Sala, Mr.Damodaran said he always tells his friends in the financial market that they must follow Ayurveda practitioners in one way. "The world of finance will benefit, if instead of giving symptomatic treatment, one must look into long-standing solutions by going to the roots, as done in Ayurveda."

The `market regulator' went on; he expressed his dismay over proliferation of massage centres in the guise of `Kerala-style Ayurveda.' "This practice of making a quick buck must be curbed as it's a blight to the system."

Saying he was a witness for decades to the efficacy of Ayurveda, Mr. Damodaran wants its purity and goodness to be protected.

Teenaged girls, E. Ponnuthai of Errampatti, J. Tamilarasi of Nallamapatti, P. Parameswari of Muthupandipatti and a few other girls of the same age group (15 to 17 years) were like Oliver Twist asking for more and more, at the end of the one-day `Gnaana Spurana' self-training programme.

They came to Indian Council for Child Welfare Tamil Nadu premises at Matharai near Usilampatti wondering what Valli Annamalai, honorary secretary of ICCW, had in store for them. They submitted themselves to her call and attended the programme, which included lectures and meditation session.

The village girls were taught on improving their memory power and how to develop a liking for studies and gain knowledge from the outside world. They slowly involved themselves with the resource persons (teachers) who had come from Dyanapeedam in Banglore.

Almost all participants were of the opinion that they gained a peace of mind and developed a liking for studies. Tamilarasi said she had developed self-confidence and hoped that she would be able to tackle all kinds of problems in her life.

For M. Kausalya of Ariyapatti the session helped her understand the `self.'

Parameswari was of the notion that she would be forced to sit with her eyes closed throughout the session, but to the contrary, the teachers were able to make the session lively with anecdotes and stories. She said `the session had opened my third eye,' which will always eyeing on gathering knowledge.

N. Veeralakshmi of Manuthu and Sivamani of Ammamuthanpatti were happy that they were able to identify their abilities, `which would help us scale greater heights.'

Ms. Valli Annamalai said she would arrange more such sessions.

The enthusiasm of Maduraites to get `world-wonder' status to the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is well justified. There is no second opinion of the historical significance or architectural value of the monument. For any establishment to acquire international standards, the basic requirement is that its surroundings must be spic and span. The Meenakshi Temple boasts of having installed rainwater-harvesting facility so as to prevent water logging on its premises.

But the squall and heavy down pour that swept the city a couple of days ago did not spare the Temple. It exposed the inefficiency of the rainwater harvesting system. The stagnated water took days to drain out. For those, who are bent upon making the temple one of the seven wonders, it is worthwhile to remember: `cleanliness is next to Godliness.'

S.S. Kavitha and

T. Saravanan

Contributions from Shastry V Mallady, S.S. Kavitha and T. Saravanan

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